Four MSJC Students Make All-Academic Team

MSJC award winners, from left: Curtis Smith, Ursula Simonoski, Ruchi Jariwala, Kylie Gardner.

Curtis Smith of the Sun City community of Menifee was among four Mt. San Jacinto College students who were honored recently in Sacramento for their achievement of being selected to the First Team of the 2015 Phi Theta Kappa All-California Academic Team.

Smith is an electrical engineering major. Also honored were Kylie Gardner and Ruchi Jariwala, both from Hemet, and Ursula Simonoski of Beaumont. They attended the awards luncheon in Sacramento on April 7.

The students were selected to the First Team based on grades, leadership and community service. The MSJC students were among 30 from across the state selected for the First Team. A total of 91 community colleges made up the first, second and third teams. The students "represent some of the best of the 2 million students enrolled in California’s 112 community colleges," according to a news release from the Community College League of California.

Dr. Bill Vincent, MSJC’s vice president of Student Services, attended the meeting to honor the students. MSJC was the only college to have four students on the team.

"It was inspiring to see four of our students among the 30 on the First Team," Dr. Vincent said. "Our students have a real passion not only for their education, but to serve as leaders in their communities. Our students are also evidence of the hard work and commitment our faculty have to student success."

The Academic Team program, administered by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the Community College League of California, recognizes community college students based on their grades, academic rigor, growth and how well the students use their education to benefit their schools and communities.

MSJC Honors Program Co-Director Christina Yamanaka said she and co-director Erik Ozolins and instructor Nick Reeves were thrilled to learn of their students’ successes on the All-California Team.

"This recognition is a reflection of their leadership, academic excellence, and community service involvement at our college," Yamanaka said. "We are incredibly proud of what they have accomplished."